Before commercial flight took off, travelling in style meant setting sail on an ocean liner. The Antiques Roadshow expert Paul Atterbury tells the story of these vessels’ journeys around and away from Britain’s coast. But there’s a lot more to the tale than just seafaring and engineering – these great ships influenced the fashions and politics of the time. Although not everyone could afford to travel by ocean liner, the ships were in the forefront of everyone’s minds and not only on those occasions when tragedy struck.

Also this week Who Do You Think You Are?

Various times and channels throughout the week

This week sees actress Sue Johnston (of Waking The Dead and The Royle Family fame) is among those climbing into the branches of her family tree. Her search centres upon her grandfather who she believes once drove the record-breaking Flying Scotsman train but she also uncovers some information that casts her relatives in a different light. Other personalities getting the WDYTYA? treatment this week include comedian John Bishop, opera singer Lesley Garrett, newsreader Moira Stuart and the writer and actress Meera Syal.

For details of other episodes broadcast this week, please see the Radio Timeswebsite.

Legacy

Thursday 28 November, 9pm, BBC2

Mid-Seventies London is the backdrop against which Alan Judd’s Cold War spy drama is played out. Charles Thoroughgood (portrayed by Charlie Cox) is only just starting to find his way in the shadowy world of MI6 when he is tasked with turning a Soviet diplomat. Friendships and loyalties are soon put to the test in a world where no-one – not even close family members – can be trusted.

A History of Britain in Numbers

Friday 29 December, 9pm, BBC Radio 4

Andrew Dilnot charts the changes in British everyday life using the wealth of statistics gathered over recent years. Women, old age, work and education all come under the spotlight tonight as Dilnot ‘runs the numbers’ to tell a fascinating and enlightening story.

Haunted Histories

Saturday, 30 November, 9pm, History

The years 1692 and 1693 were a terrible time for everyone living in Salem, Massachusetts, as ignorance and paranoia led to the killings of more than 200 people. Although the executions were court ordered, the testimonies and prosecutions were based on little more than prejudice and hearsay. By 1702, the trials had been declared unlawful but the vicious toll they’d taken could not be undone. This programme follows a group of researchers as they travel to Salem to find out more about the legacy these events have had on the area.

Treblinka: Inside Hitler’s Secret Death Camp

Sunday 31 November, 11:45pm, Channel 5

When the Nazis realised the tide of the Second World War was turning in 1943, they set about demolishing the Treblinka camp hidden in north-east Poland. By tearing down the camp, the Nazis hoped to hide the evidence of the camp’s existence and the 800,000 people that had been killed there. In this documentary, British archaeologists scour the site of the camp to piece together its history.

Shipwrecks: Britain’s Sunken History

Monday 1 December, 9pm, BBC Four

Lurking on the seabed around Britain is a treasure trove of sunken wrecks and Dr Sam Willis is on a mission to bring their stories to the surface. In the first of three programmes, the maritime historian sheds light on exactly what sent the Mary Rose to the bottom of the sea and why Britain’s defeat of the Spanish Armada came as such a surprise.

Secrets of the Manor House

Tuesday 2 December, 8pm, Yesterday

Life isn’t free from hardship for those lucky few who reside in Britain’s stately homes. But their everyday trials and tribulations are altogether different to those of the people that have to work in those same homes. Keeping places like Hampton Court Palace running smoothly is a challenging and demanding job for everyone involved. In Secrets of the Manor House, you can find out just how hard it is for everyone involved – whether they’re upstairs or downstairs.

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